Hello is there anyone there?
I know I’ve been away for months so you have probably all given up on me and gone home. I’m sorry I haven’t written since January, there have been a few reasons why but the main reason was that my archaic laptop just couldn’t cope with anything and I got fed up with it taking an eternity to do anything. To be fair, it has been very reliable but it’s just too old, I got it in 2004 which makes it about a hundred in technology years.
So finally in September I sorted my life out and ordered a new laptop which arrived this week, and you won’t believe how happy I am with it. It’s like Christmas and my birthday all at once!
It’s become a tradition that I take this week in October off work to do crafty things. I go to the Knitting & Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace on the Sunday and then spend the week making things while I’m still in a creative mind space.
Ally Pally was as inspiring as ever, even though the weather was horrendous, and I bought some wool, fabric, lace zips, ribbon and spent the coach trip knitting socks.
On Monday I celebrated Columbus Day in the same manner as they did on The Big Bang Theory (series 3 episode 4) because I thought it was a fun idea. I watched 4 films directed, written or produced by Chris Columbus and ate pizza. It was brilliant, the films I chose were:
The Goonies – awesome and one of my all time favourite films. Watching it always brings back memories of seeing it in the cinema when it was first released and seeing Jeff Cohen (Chunk) interviewed by Terry Wogan and talking about the Truffle Shuffle.
Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone -my favourite because it’s the first time we see all the little details of the wizarding world. Diagon Alley, wizard chess, chocolate frogs, Quidditch and I love it when Harry goes to Ollivander’s for his wand. Also, I love the soundtrack by John Williams.
Percy Jackson And The Lightning Thief – reminds me of my job at Ottakar’s when I first read this book. It’s a good adventure and I really enjoyed it. I can’t wait to see the sequel.
Fantastic Four – chosen predominantly because it has Chris Evans (the sexy one not the ginger one from Radio Two) in and I like looking at him and because it’s a good hero action film.
The Columbus day marathon started at 1pm and we finished watching HP1 at 10.30pm which was the best film to finish on!
In Country Living (November 2013 issue) I read that Mary Kilvert had opened a shop for her sheep designs on Catherine’s Hill which is one of my most favourite crafty streets. It’s a lovely cobbled hill in Frome, Somerset and it’s full of crafty, artistic shops.
Clockwise from top left: spiral staircase, Herbs On The Hill, counter in Make And Mend Vintage, St Catherine’s sign, inside The Garden Cafe.
We had a wonderful lunch in The Garden Cafe (brie, cranberry and celery toastie and lentil & spinach soup) which is an eclectic cafe at the bottom of Stony Street that sells artisan bread and organic veg. As the name suggests it has a nice garden and they even supply blankets and throws so you can sit in it when it’s a bit chilly.
Clockwise from top left: Marmalade Yarns, Frome flag holder (or possible Christmas Tree holder as we saw a few of them), Millie Moon, haberdashery section of Millie Moon, Hunting Raven Books, lovely autumn foliage.
Then after lunch it was down to the main reason for our visit, all the lovely shops in St Catherine’s. I bought a 5 inch charm pack of Moda Road 15 fabrics from Millie Moon Haberdashery Boutique & Sewing School and a fat quarter that looked like a map of Manhattan. I don’t need more fabric but I just couldn’t resist the Road 15 fabrics. I plan to just sew the 42 squares together in a 6×7 rectangle and make a hanging of them, nothing too complicated or I won’t get it made!!
We had a look in Marmalade Yarns but didn’t buy anything as mum and I had both bought yarn on Sunday. The lady that runs it is really nice, last time we were in she recommended a wonderful local butchers that sells Tomato Sausages just like mum used to get in Lancashire when she was little.
And then we found Mary Kilvert’s shop at the top of Catherine’s Hill, it’s a lovely shop and her husband was really helpful and friendly. Mary was apparently preparing lots of stock for the Country Living Fair in London at the end of the month so we didn’t see her. But we did get a card of her Colourful Sheep that mum wants to frame.
The last shop we found was Hunting Raven Books on Cheap Street, it’s a wonderful independent bookshop, with a brilliant Children’s department. I always judge a bookshop on the children’s and craft sections and Hunting Raven did not disappoint. It’s tiny but is absolutely crammed with shelves and books and obviously has a someone who loves books doing the ordering.
It was a really lovely day and I must remember not to leave it so long before we go again!! (and I won’t leave it so long to blog again!!)
Squiblet 